Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland,
Council of Europe
May – November 2022
Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

 Council of Europe, Strasbourg France
 © Council of Europe

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Index

05      Introduction by Minister For Foreign Affairs
        Simon Coveney T.D.

11      Message From Minister For European Affairs
        Thomas Byrne T.D.

12      Ireland’s Presidency Priorities

13      Programme of Events

17      Ireland’s Permanent Representatives

18      The Council of Europe

20      The European Court OfHuman Rights
        And The Convention

21      The Treaty System

22      Ireland and the European Court of Human Rights

24      Structure of the Council of Europe
Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

 Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Simon Coveney T.D. © DFA

                                                 “the pursuit of
                                                 peace based upon
                                                 justice and
                                                 international
                                                 cooperation is vital
                                                 for the preservation
                                                 of human society
                                                 and civilisation”

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
May   – November 2022

Introduction by Minister for Foreign Affairs
Simon Coveney T.D.

Ireland is honoured to hold the                As one of the ten founding members,
Presidency of the Committee of                 Ireland has not forgotten the key role
Ministers of the Council of Europe             that membership of the Council of
once again. While a lot has changed            Europe played in shaping our own
since Ireland’s most recent Presidency         path in European cooperation. Our
in 1999-2000, our commitment to                participation in the negotiations
human rights remains as firm as ever. A        in London that culminated in the
central pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy,    Council of Europe Statute in 1949
it underpins our global engagement. In         represented crucial early engagement
Strasbourg, Geneva, Brussels and New           with the foundations of postwar
York, we are proud to raise our voice          cooperation. A relatively poor and
to champion human rights concerns,             geographically peripheral young
defend the multilateral system and hold        nation, Ireland entered as an equal
to account those responsible for human         to discussions on the future of the
rights violations.                             European continent.

The Russian Federation’s aggression            This year will see Ireland hold both the
against Ukraine has brought the                Presidency of the Council of Europe
founding principle of the Council of           and a seat on the UN Security Council,
Europe into sharp relief; “that the            while also preparing to mark our 50th
pursuit of peace based upon justice            anniversary as an EU member state on
and international cooperation is vital         1 January 2023. As a small country,
for the preservation of human society          Ireland depends on the international
and civilisation”. It is clear that the work   rules-based order and the multilateral
of the Council of Europe, based on the         system. The Council of Europe, the
promotion and protection of human              EU and the UN sit at the heart of that
rights, democracy and the rule of law, is      system, and therefore can be found at
more vital than ever.                          the heart of Irish foreign policy.

                                                                                        5
Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Across our six-month Presidency
term, Ireland will pursue three clear                “We are proud to
and complementary priorities, with
                                                     raise our voice to
the overarching aim of renewing ‘‘the
conscience of Europe’’ in the wake of                champion human
war on our continent. First, at a time of            rights issues of
turmoil, we will reaffirm ‘Our Founding
Freedoms’, by refocusing on human
                                                     concern, defend
rights protection for civilians across               the multilateral
Europe, above all through the vital                  system and to work
work of the European Court of Human
Rights (ECtHR). Second, we will actively
                                                     to hold accountable
promote participatory democracy and                  those responsible
engagement with young people through                 for human rights
‘Hear Our Voices’, drawing on our own
experience with citizens’ assemblies.
                                                     violations.”
Finally, framed within the Irish concept
of ‘Fáilte’, we will work to foster a Europe
of welcome, inclusion, and diversity.            Ireland’s founding membership
                                                 of the Council of Europe and our
Ireland will back these priorities               implementation of the European
through clear financial commitments.             Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Our increased voluntary                          helped consolidate the rule of law in our
contributions will support the                   young state and served as a bridge for
ongoing work of the Court in                     us from isolation to integration. Over
times of turbulence following the                the past seven decades, the Council’s
cessation of Russia’s membership                 fundamental principles of pluralist
and secure existing and diverse areas            democracy, respect for human rights
of work, including the Action Plan               and the rule of law have spurred positive
for Ukraine, combatting child sexual             change across our state and society,
exploitation and continuing the fight            shaping modern Ireland. Through our
to eliminate all forms of gender-                Presidency, we hope to aid the Council
based violence.                                  in protecting and promoting these vital
                                                 principles at a time when they are most
                                                 needed, safeguarding them for the
                                                 decades and generations to come.

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
May   – November 2022

Réamhrá Ón Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha
Simon Coveney T.D.

Is mór an onóir d’Éirinn Uachtaránacht   Mar thír den deichniúr ball bunaidh,
Choiste na nAirí ar Chomhairle na        níl dearmad déanta ag Éirinn ar an
hEorpa ashealbhú arís. Thug ionsaí       bpríomhról a bhí ag ballraíocht ar
Chónaidhm na Rúise i gcoinne             Chomhairle na hEorpa i múnlú ár
na hÚcráine faoiseamh géar do            mbealach féin i gcomhoibriú Eorpach.
phrionsabal bunaidh Chomhairle na        B’ionann ár rannpháirtíocht sna
hEorpa; “go bhfuil saothrú na síochána   caibidlíochtaí i Londain ar tháinig
bunaithe ar cheartas agus ar chomhar     Reacht Chomhairle na hEorpa chun
idirnáisiúnta ríthábhachtach chun an     críche i 1949 agus rannpháirtíocht luath
tsochaí dhaonna agus an tsibhialtacht    ríthábhachtach le bunsraitheanna an
a chaomhnú”. Is léir go bhfuil obair     chomhair iarchogaidh. Chuaigh Éire,
Chomhairle na hEorpa, atá bunaithe       náisiún óg atá measartha bocht agus
ar chur chun cinn agus cosaint chearta   imeallach ó thaobh na tíreolaíochta
an duine, an daonlathais agus an         de, isteach mar chothrom le plé ar
smachta reachta, níos tábhachtaí ná      thodhchaí mhór-roinn na hEorpa.
riamh. Cé gur tháinig athrú mór ar ár    I mbliana beidh Uachtaránacht
nUachtaránacht is déanaí i 19992000,     Chomhairle na hEorpa ag Éirinn agus
tá tiomantas na hÉireann do chearta      suíochán ar Chomhairle Slándála na
an duine seasmhach i gcónaí. Leanann     Náisiúin Aontaithe, mar a rinneamar i
sé de bheith ina chrann taca lárnach     2000. Mar thír bheag, braitheann Éire
dár mbeartas eachtrach agus is creat     ar an ord idirnáisiúnta atá bunaithe ar
níos leithne é dár gcur chuige i leith   rialacha agus ar an gcóras iltaobhach. Tá
rannpháirtíochta domhanda. Táimid        Comhairle na hEorpa agus na Náisiúin
bródúil as ár nguth a ardú chun          Aontaithe ag croílár an chórais sin, agus
ceisteanna imní chearta an duine a       mar sin is féidir iad a fháil i gcroílár
chosaint, chun an córas iltaobhach       bheartas eachtrach na hÉireann.
a chosaint agus chun oibriú chun
iad siúd atá freagrach as sáruithe ar
chearta an duine a bheith cuntasach.

                                                                                    7
Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Tá sé mar aidhm ag tosaíochtaí na                Bhí ballraíocht bhunaidh na hÉireann
hÉireann dár nUachtaránacht sé mhí               ar Chomhairle na hEorpa agus ár gcur i
tacaíocht a thabhairt d’obair leanúnach          bhfeidhm ar an gCoinbhinsiún Eorpach
na Cúirte Eorpaí um Chearta an Duine             um Chearta an Duine thar a bheith
(ECtHR) agus institiúidí Chomhairle              cabhrach chun an smacht reachta
na hEorpa agus iad a chur chun cinn.             a chomhdhlúthú agus chun tacú le
Díríonn an chéad cheann díobh seo, ‘Ár           hathrú sóisialta dearfach in Éirinn.
Saoirsí Bunaithe’, ar chosaint chearta an        Le seachtó mbliana anuas, tá muid
duine do shibhialtaigh ar fud na hEorpa          treoraithe ag prionsabail bhunúsacha
a neartú, agus an ECtHR i gcroílár na            na Comhairle maidir le daonlathas
cuntasachta do bhallstáit. Díríonn an            iolraíoch, meas ar chearta an duine
dara ceann, ‘Eistigí linn’, ar chur chun         agus an smacht reachta. Tá súil againn
cinn an daonlathais rannpháirtíoch agus          go gcuirfidh ár nUachtaránacht
rannpháirtíocht le daoine óga. Tá sé             le hobair na Comhairle chun na
d’aidhm ag an tríú tosaíocht, ‘Fáilte’, cur      prionsabail seo a chosaint ar feadh na
níos mó le cothú na hEorpa fáilteach,            mblianta agus na glúnta atá le teacht.
cuimsitheachta agus éagsúlachta.
Tacóidh Éire leis na tosaíochtaí sin trí
ghealltanais airgeadais shoiléire. Tacóidh
ár ranníocaíochtaí deonacha méadaithe
le hobair leanúnach na Cúirte in am an
chruacháis airgeadais tar éis scor de
bhallraíocht na Rúise agus shlánóidh sí
réimsí oibre atá ann cheana féin agus
réimsí éagsúla oibre, lena n-áirítear
an Plean Gníomhaíochta don Úcráin,
dúshaothrú gnéasach leanaí a chomhrac
agus leanúint leis an gcomhrac chun
deireadh a chur le gach ceann díobh.
foirmeacha foréigin inscne.

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
May   – November 2022

Introduction Du Ministre Des Affaires Étrangères
Simon Coveney T.D.

L’Irlande est fière d’assumer à nouveau la         En tant que l’un des dix membres
présidence du Comité des Ministres du              fondateurs, l’Irlande n’a pas oublié
Conseil de l’Europe. Si bien des choses            le rôle déterminant que l’adhésion
se sont passées depuis la dernière                 au Conseil de l’Europe a joué dans la
présidence de l’Irlande en 1999-2000,              conception de notre propre voie en
notre engagement en matière de droits              matière de coopération européenne.
de l’homme reste toujours aussi ferme.             Notre participation aux négociations
Pilier central de la politique étrangère           de Londres, qui ont abouti au statut
de l’Irlande, les droits de l’homme sont           du Conseil de l’Europe en 1949, a
à la base de notre engagement dans le              représenté un engagement précoce
monde. À Strasbourg, Genève, Bruxelles             et crucial dans les fondements de la
et New York, nous sommes fiers de                  coopération d’après-guerre. En tant
faire entendre notre voix pour faire               que jeune nation relativement pauvre
valoir les préoccupations en matière de            et géographiquement périphérique,
droits de l’homme, défendre le système             l’Irlande a participé d’égal à égal aux
multilatéral et demander des comptes               discussions sur l’avenir du continent
aux responsables de violations des droits          européen. Cette année, l’Irlande
de l’homme.L’agression de la Fédération            assumera à la fois la présidence du
de Russie contre l’Ukraine a mis en                Conseil de l’Europe et occupera un
lumière le principe fondateur du Conseil           siège au Conseil de sécurité des
de l’Europe, à savoir que “la recherche            Nations unies, tout en se préparant à
d’une paix fondée sur la justice et la             célébrer son 50e anniversaire en tant
coopération internationale est vitale pour         qu’État membre de l’UE le 1er janvier
la préservation de la société humaine et           2023. En tant que petit pays, l’Irlande
de la civilisation”. Il est clair que le travail   dépend de l’ordre international fondé
du Conseil de l’Europe, fondé sur la               sur des règles et dumultilatéralisme . Le
promotion et la protection des droits de           Conseil de l’Europe, l’UE et les Nations
l’homme, de la démocratie et de l’État de          unies sont au coeur de ce système et se
droit, est plus vital que jamais.                  trouvent donc au coeur de la politique
                                                   étrangère irlandaise

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Presidency of Ireland, Council of Europe May - November 2022 - Coe
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Au cours des six prochains mois                  d’action pour l’Ukraine, la lutte contre
de notre présidence, l’Irlande                   l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants et la
poursuivra trois priorités claires et            poursuite de la lutte pour l’élimination
complémentaires, dans le but global de           de toutes formes de violence a l’égard
renouveler “la conscience de l’Europe”           des femmes.
dans ce context de guerre sur notre
                                                 Notre adhésion précoce au Conseil de
continent. Tout d’abord, en cette
                                                 l’Europe et notre mise en oeuvre de
périodeagitée , nous réaffirmerons
                                                 la Convention européenne des droits
“nos libertés fondatrices” en nous
                                                 de l’homme (CEDH) ont contribué à
recentrant sur la protection des droits
                                                 consolider l’État de droit dans notre
de l’homme pour les citoyens de toute
                                                 jeune État et nous ont permis de passer
l’Europe, surtout grâce au travail
                                                 de l’isolement à l’intégration. Au cours
essentiel de la Cour européenne des
                                                 des sept dernières décennies, les
droits de l’homme (CEDH).Ensuite,
                                                 principes fondamentaux du Conseil que
, nous ferons la promotion active
                                                 sont la démocratie pluraliste, le respect
de la démocratie participative et de
                                                 des droits de l’homme et l’État de droit
l’engagement des jeunes par le biais de
                                                 ont suscité des changements positifs
“ Entendez nos voix”, en nous appuyant
                                                 dans notre pays et notre société,
sur notre proper expérience des
                                                 façonnant ainsi l’Irlande moderne.
assemblées citoyennes. Enfin, dans le
                                                 Grâce à notre présidence, nous
cadre du concept irlandais de “Fáilte”,
                                                 espérons aider le Conseil à protéger et
nous nous efforcerons de favoriser
                                                 à promouvoir ces principes vitaux à un
une Europe de l’accueil, de l’inclusion
                                                 moment où ils sont le plusnécessaires,
et de la diversité. L’Irlande soutiendra
                                                 les sauvegardant pour les décennies et
ces priorités par des engagements
                                                 générations à venir.
financiers clairs. L’augmentation de nos
contributions volontaires permettra
de soutenir les travaux actuellement
menés par la Cour en cette période de
troubles, à la suite de la cessation de
l’adhésion de la Russie, et de garantir
les domaines de compétence existants
et diversifiés, notamment le plan

10
May   – November 2022

Message From Minister For European Affairs
Thomas Byrne T.D.

Ireland is proud to be a founding member      Europe, reflecting our shared heritage.
of the Council of Europe. Our early           An island state, ‘Éire’ - the Irish for
engagement with the Council set a tone        ‘Ireland’ - sits surrounded by waves ,
for our still young state to integrate, and   forming with the accent – the ‘fada’ -
lead, within a continent emerging from        over the e , itself echoing the Council of
the ashes of war. In the seventy years        Europe’s logo. From those shared origins
since, “the conscience of Europe”, as our     a tide rises, reaching across the coasts
President has called it, has spurred us to    of the wider continent, reverberating in
better serve our citizens.                    our shared values which the Council of
                                              Europe exemplifies.
Our Presidency logo reflects the
intertwined and indivisible nature of         Ireland’s Presidency occurs at a critical
Ireland’s bonds within Europe -we             juncture as, collectively, we once again
are connected by frequencies, by the          confront the scourge of war. Working
vibrations of our past, the aspirations       with our partners at the Council of
of our future. The shape of the logo          Europe and beyond, we are determined
also takes inspiration from the spiral        to do all we can during our Presidency
motifs in ancient Megalithic art found        term to confront the challenge this
at Newgrange in Ireland and across            presents, supporting Ukraine and all
                                              those striving to protect human rights,
                                              democracy, and the rule of law across
                                              our shared continent. In so doing, we
                                              draw inspiration from the Council of
                                              Europe’s founding texts and from our
                                              own history, reflected in the words of
                                              the great Seamus Heaney: “But then,
                                              once in a lifetime the longed-for tidal
                                              wave of justice can rise up, and hope
                                              and history rhyme.’’ Let us hope, and
 Minister for European Affairs
                                              strive, for a great sea-change in the
 Thomas Byrne T.D.
 © DFA                                        months ahead.

                                                                                         11
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Ireland’s Presidency Priorities

© Alban Hefti

  •      Our Founding Freedoms                   Did you know?
         Reinforcing Human Rights                The inclusion of ‘‘the
         and the Protection of Civilians         pursuit of peace’’ in the
         in Europe’                              preamble to the Statute
  •      Hear Our Voices
                                                 of the Council of Europe
         Promoting participatory
                                                 was on the initiative of
         democracy and
                                                 Ireland’s Foreign Minister
         youth engagement
                                                 Seán MacBride, who, as
                                                 Ireland’s first chair of the
  •      Fáilte                                  Committee of Ministers,
         Fostering a Europe of welcome,          voiced his hope that the
         inclusion, and diversity                Council would ‘‘erect
                                                 above the tumult an ideal
                                                 around which the
                                                 conscience of mankind’’
                                                 could rally.

12
May   – November 2022

Programme Of Events

 Policy Programme

 19-20 May, Turin                                                 7 June, Palais de l’Europe, Strasbourg
 Committee of Ministers. Beginning                                Seminar on Anti-Muslim
 of Ireland’s Presidency with handover                            Discrimination
 from Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
                                                                  14 June, Tralee, Kerry
 and International Cooperation Mr.
                                                                  Meeting of the Bureau of the Congress
 Luigi Di Maio to Minister for Foreign
                                                                  of Local and Regional Authorities
 Affairs Mr. Simon Coveney T.D.
                                                                  15-17 June, Dublin
 23-25 May, University
                                                                  City University, Dublin
 College Cork, Cork
                                                                  Global Forum on Higher Education
 Conference on Building a Europe
                                                                  Leadership for Democracy,
 for and with Children, hosted by
                                                                  Sustainability, and Social Justice
 Minister for Children, Equality,
 Disability, Integration and Youth,                               21-24 June, Department
 Mr. Roderic O’Gorman T.D.                                        of Health, Dublin
                                                                  Executive Training on ‘Substance use,
 26-27 May, Galmont Hotel, Galway
                                                                  addictions and online practices’, co-
 Circom (European Association
                                                                  hosted by the Department of Health
 of Regional Television) Regional
                                                                  and the Pompidou Group
 Conference 2022 and award of
 the ‘Prix Circom’, hosted by Circom                              20-24 June, Palais de
 Regional and TG4                                                 l’Europe, Strasbourg
                                                                  Session of the Parliamentary Assembly
 30-31 May, Westin Hotel, Dublin
                                                                  of the Council of Europe (PACE)
 Bureau and Standing Committee of
 the Parliamentary Assembly of the                                28 June-1 July, Strasbourg
 Council of Europe (PACE)                                         Democracy Action Week

                                                                                                           13
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

  30 June, Strasbourg                            14-15 September, Meath
  Human Rights Education for Legal               Annual Conference of the Association
  Professionals (HELP) Network                   of Irish Local Government
  Annual Conference
                                                 15 September, National
  30 June, Strasbourg                            University of Ireland, Galway
  Human Rights Education for Legal               Meeting of the Council of Europe
  Professionals (HELP) Network                   Committee of Experts on Roma and
  Annual Conference                              Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM)

  7-9 July, Dublin Castle, Dublin                16-17 September, National
  Annual Joint Meeting of the                    University of Ireland, Galway
  Governing Board and the                        Irish Travellers / Mincéirs and the
  Administrative Council of the Council          State 1922 – 2022: the Struggle for
  of Europe Development Bank hosted              Equality conference
  by Minister for Finance Mr. Paschal
                                                 29-30 September, RDS, Dublin
  Donohoe T.D. and Minister for Foreign
                                                 Conference of the Ministers
  Affairs Mr. Simon Coveney T.D.
                                                 of Justice on Domestic, Sexual
  August, Strasbourg                             and Gender-Based Violence
  Launch of European Heritage Days               hosted by Minister for Justice,
                                                 Ms. Helen McEntee T.D.
  1 September, National
  University of Ireland, Galway                  October
  Lighting the Shade: Effective                  Symposium on
  application of ECHR in Contested               Human Rights Defenders
  European Territories conference
                                                 3-5 October, Farmleigh House, Dublin
  13 September, Strasbourg                       Intergovernmental conference on
  Venice Commission conference on                The Voice and Determination of
  New Challenges to the Freedom of               the Best Interests of Children in
  Association, with the participation            Family Law Proceedings hosted
  of Minister for European Affairs               by Minister for Children, Equality,
  Mr. Thomas Byrne T.D                           Disability, Integration and Youth,
                                                 Mr. Roderic O’Gorman T.D.

14
May   – November 2022

4 October, Palais de                     3-4 November, Dublin
l’Europe, Strasbourg                     European Congress on Global
Centenary of the Irish Civil War:        Citizenship Education hosted by
a case study for Europe event            Minister for Overseas Development
                                         and Diaspora Mr. Colm Brophy T.D.
10-14 October, Strasbourg Session
of the Parliamentary Assembly of         7-9 November, Palais
the Council of Europe (PACE)             de l’Europe, Strasbourg
                                         World Forum for Democracy and
10-28 October, Palais
                                         Presidency handover to Iceland
de l’Europe, Strasbourg
Conserving our Heartland, an             Cultural Calendar
exhibition celebrating 40 Years of the
                                         1 June, Place de la
Bern Convention in Ireland
                                         Republique, Strasbourg
20-21 October, Farmleigh, Dublin         Opening Ceremony at Strasbourg
Judicial conference between              City Hall
the President and Bureau of the
                                         9 June, Cinéma Star Saint-
European Court of Human Rights
                                         Exupéry, Strasbourg
and Senior Irish Judiciary, led by
                                         Pride month: screening of
the Chief Justice of Ireland
                                         The Queen of Ireland with
25-27 October, Palais                    Director Conor Horgan, preceded
de l’Europe, Strasbourg                  by rooftop reception
Session of the Congress of Local
                                         15 June, Palais de l’Europe, Strasbourg
and Regional Authorities
                                         Jurisprudence of Joyce with Dr Joseph
28 October, Iveagh House, Dublin         Hassett and Reverberations: Music and
Meeting of the Council of                Musings from Joyce’s Dublin with Tale
Europe’s working group on sexual         of the Gael
orientation, gender identity, gender
                                         21 June, Pavillon
expression and sex characteristics
                                         Josephine, Strasbourg
(GT-ADI-SOGI)
                                         ‘New Éire’, a celebration of young
                                         Irish musicians

                                                                                             15
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

  28 June-28 August, Bibliothèque                                          25 October, Palais de
  André Malraux, Strasbourg                                                l’Europe, Strasbourg
  Exhibition on Following Ulysses by                                       Congress of Local and Regional
  Deirdre Brennan                                                          Authorities culture evening

  1-10 July, 5e Lieu, Strasbourg                                           27-30 October, Théâtre
  Irish Poetry Jukebox installation                                        du Cube Noir, Strasbourg
                                                                           Performances of She Was Wearing, a
  7 September, Musée                         MAR - APR 2019
                                                                                    IRELAND'S PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

                                                                           series of nine especially commissioned
                                                                                                              MAY - NOVEMBER 2022

  Tomi Ungerer, Strasbourg
                                                                           monologues which highlight the issue
  Celebration of Alsatian artist              3-5 October, Dublin – Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
                                                                           of violence against women
                                              Affairs, Roderic O’Gorman, hosts Intergovernmental conference on Upholding the Best
  and satirist Tomi Ungerer with
                                              Interests of Children in Family Law. Minister McEntee will also address the event, which
                                              provides an opportunity for Ireland to showcase recent family justice reforms and support
                                              the work of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts developing guidance in this area.
  Aria Ungerer                                                             3 November, Eglise Saint-
                                              10/-11 October, Strasbourg -, Minister Coveney represents the Committee of Ministers at
                                                                           Pierre-le Vieux, Strasbourg
                                              the October session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. .The

  9 September, Palais de
                                              Presidency also hosts a major cultural programme.

                                                                           End of Presidency Samhain céilí and
                                              18 October, Strasbourg - Centenary of the Irish Civil War: a case study for Europe event
  l’Europe, Strasbourg                        20-21 October, Dublin – Judicial conference convened by the Chief Justice, to be attended by
                                                             culture evening
                                              the President of the European Court of Human Rights and Vice-Presidents of the Court.

  Rentrée: a showcase of Irish music
                                 25 October, Strasbourg - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities October Session,
                                              which Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke, will be invited to
  and dance                                                                For further information
                                              attend. A cultural event will also take place.

                                                                           please see:
                                              7-9 November, Strasbourg – the World Forum for Democracy co-hosted by the Council of
                                              Europe, the City of Strasbourg and civil society. Icelandic Prime Minister and Foreign
  5 October, Palais de                        Minister to attend. Opportunity to conduct the Closing ceremony as Ireland formally hands
                                              over to Iceland.

  l’Europe, Strasbourg                                                     https://www.ireland.ie/coe
  World Mental Health Week:
                                                                           Or scan below for the latest update on
  Screening of Horrible Creature by
                                                                           our programme of events:
                                                       For the latest information on our programme of events please see:
  Director Aine Stapleton, a film based
  on the life of James Joyce’s daughter,
  Lucia Joyce

  11 October, Aubette
  Place Kléber, Strasbourg
  Sounds of Europe, a concert featuring
  the works of Galuppi, Field,
  Beethoven, Debussy and Chopin with
                                                                                                                                             8
  Mícéal O’Rourke

16
May   – November 2022

Ireland’s Permanent Representatives to
The Council of Europe

One of Ireland’s first female diplomats,
Máire Mhac an tSaoi, served as
Ireland’s Ambassador to the Council
of Europe in 1961. She described
the establishment of the Council as
“a stage in international progress
unimaginable before the last war”.
                                              © DFA

                                              In 1970 Ambassador Mary Tinney was
                                              Ireland’s Permanent Representative to
                                              the Council of Europe. She is pictured
                                              here with former Secretary General of the
                                              Council of Europe Lujo Tončić-Sorinj.

© DFA

Ambassador Justin Harman was
responsible for establishing Ireland’s
current office, or Permanent
Representation, to the Council of
Europe in 1999.
                                              © Irish Times

                                              Ambassador Breifne O’Reilly is Ireland’s
                                              current Permanent Representative.
                                              Ambassador O’Reilly’s duties during the
                                              Presidency include chairing the Committee
                                              of Ministers.

© Council of Europe

                                                                                         17
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe

© Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is the leading             Rights (ECHR). Signed by Ireland in
human rights organisation on the                 1950, the ECHR was designed to
continent. Ireland was one of ten                safeguard human rights, democracy
founding members of the Council of               and the rule of law and has been the
Europe in 1949. Ireland established              cornerstone of human rights law across
a Permanent Representation to the                the continent for over seventy years.
Council of Europe in Strasbourg in 1999          The European Court of Human Rights
under Ambassador Justin Harman.                  (ECtHR), a subsidiary body of the
                                                 Council, oversees implementation of
The Council of Europe now has 46
                                                 the Convention across the Council’s
Member States and 5 Observer States.
                                                 Member States.
Each of the Member States is a party
to the European Convention on Human

18
May   – November 2022

Despite their overlapping use of the       of rights and freedoms within the
symbols, and their similar-sounding        EU. The Council of Europe counts
titles, the Council of Europe is an        all 27 EU states as members as well
entirely separate entity to the European   as nineteen additional members,
Union. The ECHR is however an              including Ukraine, Turkey, Norway,
important source for the protection        and the United Kingdom.

© Council of Europe

       Did you know?
       The Council of Europe first designed, adopted and used the
       iconic European flag in 1955. It was only in 1986 that the
       European Parliament recommended that the flag be
       adopted as the emblem of the European Communities.

                                                                                 19
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

The European Court Of Human Rights And
The Convention

Rights listed in the European                    Court until 2017 and Ireland has funded
Convention of Human Rights (ECHR)                the webcasting of proceedings for a
are primarily safeguarded through                number of years.
national courts and ultimately
                                                 The backlog of cases reached a peak of
guaranteed by the European Court of
                                                 150,000 in 2012 before reducing to the
Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg.
                                                 current number of 50,000 following the
                                                 adoption of mechanisms such as pilot
                                                 judgements, where systematic failings are
                                                 dealt with by determining a single case.
                                                 These remedial measures commenced in
                                                 the context of a series of declarations on
                                                 the reform of the Court and Convention
                                                 system signed by Member States,
© Council of Europe
                                                 beginning with the Interlaken Declaration
The Court has faced challenges in recent         in 2010 and continuing through Brighton,
years, notably due to the enormous               Izmir, Brussels and Copenhagen in 2018.
increase in the number of pending cases,
                                                 In addition to managing the backlog of
after membership of the Council of
                                                 cases, the reform process has sought to
Europe doubled following the accession
                                                 ensure high quality judgements, improve the
of a large number of formerly Communist
                                                 execution of judgements and clarify the role
States in the 1990s.
                                                 that subsidiarity plays in the justice system.
Throughout this process Ireland has
been supportive of measures to improve
the functioning of the Court, whilst
ensuring that its ultimate authority and
independence are safeguarded and the
rule of law upheld. Former Chief Justice
John Murray acted as Chair of an Advisory         Judge elected in respect of Ireland
Panel on the appointment of judges to the         Síofra O’Leary © Council of Europe

20
May   – November 2022

The Treaty System

The European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) is foundation on which the work
of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is built.
© Council of Europe

The Council of Europe achieves its
mandate of safeguarding human
rights, democracy and the rule of law
in Europe through 220 international
treaties and agreements. The European
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
is the core instrument within the
                                                                     The European
Council of Europe for the protection of
                                                                     Convention of
fundamental rights and freedoms.                                     Human Rights (ECHR)
                                                                     © Council of Europe

Many of the Council’s treaties can be
acceded to by Non-Member States.
Treaties often contain monitoring
mechanisms which involve expert level
country visits followed by reports and
implementation evaluations.

                                                                                                             21
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Ireland And The European Court Of
Human Rights

Ireland has undertaken to secure for             adult males. The applicant in this case,
everyone within its jurisdiction the             Senator David Norris, was a leading
rights and freedoms provided for                 figure in the campaign that resulted in
under the European Convention on                 the marriage equality referendum held in
Human Rights.                                    Ireland on 22 May 2015.

The first ever decision delivered by the
Court concerned an application against
Ireland (Lawless v Ireland). When
this decision was delivered by the
President of the Court, René Cassin,
on 1 July 1960, Ireland was just one
of 8 parties to the Convention which
accepted the binding jurisdiction of the
Court in individual applications.

The inter-state case of Ireland v                Senator David Norris
the United Kingdom (1978) had a                  © Houses of Oireachtas

significant impact on the development
of the Court’s jurisprudence concerning          The applicants in both Airey and Norris
the distinction between torture and              were represented by Mary Robinson, a
inhuman and degrading treatment                  future President of Ireland and UN High
under Article 3 of the Convention.               Commissioner for Human Rights.

Airey v Ireland (1979) remains a                 More recently, the case of Bosphorus
landmark case relating to the obligation         Airways v Ireland (2005) introduced
to provide legal aid in certain civil cases      the presumption that the protection
under Article 6 of the Convention.               afforded under EU law to fundamental
                                                 rights is equivalent to that provided for
The case of Norris v Ireland (1988)
                                                 under the Convention.
ultimately resulted in decriminalisation
of homosexual acts between consenting

22
May   – November 2022

                                                                The implementation of the Court’s
                                                                judgements concerning Ireland
                                                                continues to act as a catalyst for
                                                                positive social change in a range
                                                                of areas, while the Court’s case
                                                                law has profoundly influenced
                                                                the interpretation of domestic
                                                                constitutional guarantees for personal
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland
and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights                       rights and fundamental freedoms.
© Irish Examiner

The European Court of Human Rights was established in 1959 and has since delivered more
than 100,000 judgements. A judge is elected in respect of each of the 46 member states.
© Council of Europe

    Did you know?
    Ireland was the first state to recognise the compulsory
    jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Ireland
    was only the second state, after Sweden, to recognise the
    competence of the Court to receive petitions from any
    person, NGO or group of individuals claiming to be victim of
    a violation by one of the contracting parties to the rights set
    forth in the Convention.

                                                                                                            23
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

Structure Of The Council Of Europe

 The Committee of Ministers’ Deputies meeting in progress.
 © Council of Europe

The Committee of Ministers                                   Budget contributions are calculated
The Committee of Ministers is the                            according to an agreed formula
Council’s decision-making body.                              that considers national income and
Comprising the Ministers of Foreign                          population. Ireland will contribute at
Affairs of each member state, it meets                       least €3.7m to the roughly €500m
once a year, typically in May.                               budget in 2022. Ireland will voluntarily
                                                             contribute an additional €935,000 this
The day-to-day functioning of the Council                    year to its priority projects, including
is carried out by the Committee of                           support for democratic and judicial
Minister’s Deputies (CM), made up of each                    institutions in Ukraine.
member state’s Permanent Representative
(Ambassador) in Strasbourg.                                  Four times a year the CM convenes a
                                                             special meeting on Human Rights - les
The CM holds a meeting in Strasbourg                         réunions Droits de l’homme du Comité
most Wednesdays, and its duties                              des Ministres - or CMDH. Ireland
include deciding on Council of Europe                        chaired the CMDH in the six months
policy and approving its budget and                          leading up to its Presidency.
programme of activities.

24
May   – November 2022

 Committee of Ministers’ Deputies room
 © Council of Europe

These rigorous, three-day meetings       also the democratic forums for debates
examine judgements handed down           on topical issues, presentations on
by the European Court of Human           monitoring missions to Member States
Rights (ECtHR) that have not yet         and votes stemming from the findings
been implemented by the respondent       of its reports.
states. The CMDH takes action, as
required, to ensure that judgements
are implemented.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE)
The Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) is composed
of parliamentarians from each member
state. It holds plenary sessions four
times per year, normally in January,
April, June and October, where it
discusses reports prepared by its nine   Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
committees. The plenary sessions are     © Council of Europe

                                                                                                  25
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

                                                  “Ireland is proud to be a founding member
                                                  of the Council of Europe, and through our
                                                  Presidency we will reaffirm our commitment
                                                  to the European spirit of inclusivity,
                                                  shared values and respect. Democratic
                                                  values cannot be taken for granted. They
                                                  must be protected and defended- this is a
                                                  cornerstone of our presidential priorities. Ní
                                                  neart go cur le chéile (there is no strength
 Head of PACE Delegation
                                                  without unity)” - Head of the Irish PACE
 Senator Fiona O’Loughlin
 © Conor McCabe
                                                  Delegation Senator Fiona O’Loughlin

The PACE also elects the Secretary               The Congress of Local
General of the Council of Europe,                and Regional Authorities
the Human Rights Commissioner and                The Congress of Local and Regional
the judges on the European Court of              Authorities is responsible for
Human Rights. National delegations               strengthening local democracy in the
must conform to the proportion of                Council’s 46 Member States. It brings
elected representatives in their national        together over 600 elected officials
assemblies, and consider gender                  representing more than 150,000 local
balance. The Irish national delegation           and regional authorities. Its main
may be appointed for the duration of a           activities are the monitoring of local
Dáil, or on an annual basis.                     elections and promotion of the Council
                                                 of Europe’s conventions at a local level.
The current Irish delegation consists
of four members - Senator Fiona                  Representatives are appointed for
O’Loughlin (Chair), Deputy Dara                  a five-year term in accordance with
Calleary, Senator Paul Gavan and                 each Member State’s own procedure.
Senator Joe O’Reilly – and four                  Like PACE, Ireland is represented
substitute representatives - Senator             at Congress by four representatives
Lynn Boylan, Senator Róisín Garvey,              - Councillors Jimmy Moloney
Deputy Emer Higgins and Deputy                   (Head of Delegation), Gobnait Ni
Thomas Pringle.                                  Mhuimneacain, Anne Colgan and
                                                 John Crowe - and four substitute
                                                 representatives – Councillors Alan
                                                 Cheevers, Aisling Moran, Deirdre
                                                 O’Donovan and Tom Welby.

26
May   – November 2022

                                        “I am delighted to reinforce Ireland’s
                                        strong identification with the European
                                        values of democracy and the rule of
                                        law. Such characteristics essential to a
                                        civilised society are lived out every day
                                        in the service of local authority elected
                                        members throughout the member states
                                        of the Congress. The Irish delegation
                                        with its particular perspective from the
                                        western periphery of the continent is
                                        determined to play its part in supporting
                                        Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of
                                        Europe at a time when champions of
                                        European values were never more needed.”
                                        - Head of the Irish Delegation to the
 Head of Congress Delegation
                                        Congress of Local & Regional Authorities
 Councillor Jimmy Moloney               Councillor Jimmy Moloney
 © Council of Europe

The Council of Europe
Development Bank
The Council of Europe Development
Bank (CEB) is a multilateral
development bank with an
exclusively social mandate. Through
the provision of financing and
technical expertise for projects with
a high social impact in its member
states, it actively promotes social
cohesion and strengthens social
integration in Europe. Officials from
the Department of Finance, led by
Minister for Finance and President of
the Eurogroup Paschal Donohoe, sit
on the Bank’s Administrative Council.

                                                                                    27
Presidency of Ireland of the Council of Europe

                                                  “Ireland is a founding and much-valued
                                                  member of the Council of Europe.
                                                  It assumes the Presidency of our
                                                  Committee of Ministers at a difficult
                                                  moment for our continent: a time in
                                                  which our values are under attack. So,
                                                  I welcome the priorities that Ireland
                                                  has chosen for its Presidency. These
                                                  will help ensure our further impact for
                                                  the benefit of our 46 member states.”
                                                  - Secretary General of the Council of
 Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
                                                  Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić
 Marija Pejčinović Burić
 © Council of Europe

The Secretary General                            The Commissioner for Human Rights
The current Secretary General                    The Commissioner for Human Rights
of the Council of Europe, Marija                 promotes human rights reform and
Pejčinović Burić, took up office                 protection in Council of Europe
in September 2019, having been                   Member States. Dunja Mijatović,
elected by PACE the previous June.               a national of Bosnia-Herzegovina,
She was formerly Croatia’s Deputy                who twice held the position of OSCE
Prime Minister and Minister for                  Representative on Freedom of the
Foreign and European Affairs.                    Media, was elected as Commissioner
                                                 for a six-year term in January 2018.

 Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic
 ©Council of Europe

28
© Council of Europe
Notes
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the
Council of Europe

11 Boulevard du Président Edwards
67000 Strasbourg, France
Phone: +33 (0) 144176755
Email: strasbourgce@dfa.Ie
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